Burges Salmon, one of the leading law firms in the UK, is pleased to announce that environmental law specialist Simon Tilling has been elected to the Council of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA).
UKELA is the UK forum which aims to make the law work for a better environment and to improve understanding and awareness of environmental law. A registered charity and a limited company, its charitable objects include promoting, for the benefit of the public generally, the enhancement and conservation of the environment in the UK and advancing the education of the public in all matters relating to the development, teaching, application and practice of law relating to the environment. This work includes encouraging collaboration between those interested in environmental law, collecting and disseminating information and identifying, advising and commenting on relevant issues.
Simon commented: “I am delighted to have been elected to the Council of UKELA. This is a four year role and I look forward to assisting UKELA to achieve its charitable objectives and to working with members throughout the UK. The experience that I gain in this role will further enhance my knowledge of the environment sector and enable me to continue providing high levels of service to the firm's clients.”
The Council of UKELA is the body responsible for the management of the association. It comprises approximately 20 people, over half of whom are required by the Association's Memorandum and Articles to be qualified lawyers. Elections are held annually and as UKELA is a registered charity, members of Council are its trustees.
The legal duties of UKELA's Council include:
- complying with the law on keeping financial records, including in relation to annual statements of account, the audit of accounts, annual report and annual return
- complying with the requirements of the Association's memorandum and articles
- keeping proper records of all meetings and any professional advice obtained
- ensuring legal compliance, for example, with regards to Health and Safety and employment law (or employing contractors)
- ensuring all UKELA’s activities come within its charitable objects
- ensuring other accountability as required by the law (eg the Charity Commission, Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, Registrar of Companies).
Simon joined Burges Salmon as a trainee in 2004 and qualified into the firm’s Environmental law unit in 2006. He advises clients on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious environmental issues and specialises in practice areas including Environmental Litigation, Environmental Compliance and Regulation, Criminal Prosecutions, Chemicals, Water and Contaminated Land.
Simon lectures widely on environmental law at conferences and seminars, and regularly contributes to the environment sector’s key publications.